Aside from the normal routine of G-1 activities, the G-1 Section was concerned primarily with the problems incident to the capture of many thousands of German prisoners of war, and the supervision of the evacuation of liberated Allied prisoners of war, and the evacuation of displaced Allied nationals. A minimum estimate of the number of German prisoners of war who surrendered to the 82nd Airborne Division has been set at 144000, during the period subsequent to the crossing of the Elbe River and the rapid advance to a Junction with the Russian forces between Ludwigslust and Grabon, Germany. The climatic disintegration of German formations in the area of Division responsibility presented an unparalleled situation. The surrender of enemy units was so rapid that it was impossible to concentrate the defeated foe in Division Collecting Points without seriously depleting its outnumbered strength to provide sufficient men to control and process the tons of thousands of Germans.
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Feb
20
2010
Category : 505/82nd Abn Div, Germany
Aug
18
2009
Category : Germany
After Action Report – 82nd Airborne Division – May 1945
1 – Narrative
By nightfall, April 30, 1945, the 82nd Airborne Division had established a small bridgehead east of the Elbe River in the vicinity of Bleckede, Germany. This bridgehead had been established by the 505th Prcht Inf Regt in a splendid example of coordination and river crossing technique by a veteran regiment.
During the night of April 30 – May 1, the plan was to build up sufficient forces from the 504th Parachute Infantry, which was arriving by train approximately five hours from the Elbe River, so as to attack out of the bridgehead with that regiment by daylight. One battalion of this regiment arrived at the bridgehead by 0430-H and with a full appreciation of the value of time it jumped off at 0500-H, the regiment being reinforced during the day by the later arrival of its other battalions. Troops completing the 4 – 6 day train trip from the Koln area were immediately en trucked and taken into the bridgehead. Then, after being briefed and issued ammunition, they were committed to the attack. It was obvious that the German was disintegrating rapidly and it was of the utmost importance that regardless of the physical condition of our troops, the momentum of our drive be maintained until the enemy was completely destroyed or overrun.
Jul
17
2009
The 102nd Infantry Division was activated on September 15 1942 at Camp Maxey, Texas and moved on September 16 1943 to the 3rd Army #4 Louisiana Maneuvers. It was then transferred to Camp Swift, Texas on November 18 1943, arrived at Fort Dix, New Jersey, June 23rd 1944, staged at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, September 6 1944 until departed the New York Port of Embarkation on September 12th 1944.
The 102nd Infantry Division arrived in France on September 23rd 1944, crossed into Belgium on October 31st; crossed into Holland the same day and entered, finally, Germany on November 29th 1944.
When war was over, the 102nd Infantry Division returned to the New York POE on March 11th 1946. It was inactivated at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, on March 12th 1946.
Campaigns : Rhineland, Central Europe
August 1945 Location : Gardelegen (Hannover) Germany
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Jun
27
2009
UNITED STATES ARMY IN WORLD WAR II
Stetson Conn, General Editor
Advisory Committee
(As of 1 July 1964)
- Fred C. Cole
Washington and Lee University
- Lt Gen August Schomburg
Industrial College of the Armed Forces
- James A. Field, Jr.
Swarthmore College
- Maj Gen Hugh M. Exton
US Continental Army Command
- Earl Pomeroy
University of Oregon
- Brig Gen Ward S. Ryan
US Army War College
- Theodore Ropp
Duke University
- Brig Gen Elias C. Townsend
US Army Command and General Staff College
- Lt Col Thomas E. Griess
United States Military Academy
- Office of the Chief of Military History
Brig Gen Hal. C. Pattison, Chief of Military History
Chief Historian, Stetson Conn
Chief Histories Division, Col Albert W. Jones
Chief Editorial and Graphics Division, Col Walter B. McKenzie
Editor in Chief, Joseph R. Friedman
… to Those Who Served
Mar
03
2009
The 7th Armored Division was activated on Mar 1 1942 at Camp Polk, Louisiana and moved Sep 15 1942 to the IV Corps Louisiana Maneuvers. It returned to Camp Polk on Nov 9 1942, arrived then Mar 11 1943 at the Desert Training Center for the #2 California Maneuvers, was transferred Aug 12 1943 to Fort Benning, Georgia and arrived at Camp Myles Standish, Massachusetts on Apr 22 1944.
The Division staged et Camp Shanks, New York, from May 2 1944 until departed New York Port of Embarkation on Jun 7 Jun 1944 and arrived in England on Jun 14 1944.
The 7th Armored Division landed in France on Aug 11 1944, crossed into Belgium on Sep 26 and into Holland on Oct 8 1944. It returned to Belgium on Dec 28 1944 and entered Germany Mar 15 1945.
The 7/AD arrived then at Hampton Roads POE on Oct 9 1945 and was inactivated at Camp Patrick Henry, Virginia on Oct 9 1945.
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Feb
15
2009
The 5th Armored Division was activated at Fort Knox Kentucky Oct 1 1941 and was moved on Feb 16 1942 to Camp Cooke in California. On Aug 14 1942, it participated in the Desert Training Center Armored Corps California Maneuvers and returned to Camp Cooke Nov 19 1942. On Mar 17 1942, the Division moved to the 2nd Army #1 Tennessee Maneuvers and arrived at Pine Camp New York Jun 24 1943. It moved then to Indian town Gap Mil Res Pennsylvania Dec 8 1943; staged at Camp Kilmer New Jersey during Feb 1944 until departed New York POE on Feb 11 1944 and arrived in England on Feb 24 1944. The 5th Armored Division landed in France Jul 25 1944, crossed into Luxembourg Sep 2 1944 and into Belgium Oct 5 1944. The Division, finally, entered Germany Dec 1 1944, returned to Belgium Dec 24, to Holland Feb 5 1945 and re-entered Germany Feb 25 1945. Sent back to USA, the 5th Armored landed in New York Oct 10 1945 and was inactivated at Camp Kilmer New Jersey Oct 11 1945.
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Feb
13
2009
Category : Cavalry Troops
I have found some interesting informations about Cavalry Troops during World War Two. I know that these informations are not really dig in but at least they give interesting Location and good start points to dig deeper.
Feb
07
2009
Activated at Camp Jackson, South Carolina, Jul 1 1940, the 8th D was redesignated there as 8th Infantry Division Jul 31 1941.
It moved then to the Carolina Maneuver Area on Sept 25 1941, participated in both Oct and Nov 1941 Carolina Maneuvers; arrived Fort Jackson, South Carolina, Nov 30 where it was redesignated 8th Motorized Division on Apr 9 1942.
The 8th Motorized Division participated then in 1st Corps Tennessee Maneuvers Oct-Nov 1942 and moved to Camp Forrest Tennessee on Nov 7 1942 then was transfered to Fort Leonard Wood Missouri Nov 29 1942. It moved then to Camp Young California on Mar 20 1943 for IX Corps Desert Training Maneuvers #2 where redesignated 8th Infantry Division on May 15 1943
The 8th ID returned to Camp Forrest Tennessee on Aug 15 1943 then staged at Camp Kilmer New Jersey on Nov 22 1943 until departed New York POE on Dec 5 1943.
The 8th ID arrived in England on Dec 15 1943 and landed in France on Jul 3 1944. It crossed into Luxembourg Nov 20 1944 and into Germany on same day.
The 8th ID was sent to Hampton Roads POE on Jul 10 1945 and moved back to Fort Leonard Wood Missouri on Jul 13 1945 where it was inactivated on Nov 20 1945.
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Jan
29
2009
Category : Battle of the Bulge, Germany
With the help and the work from my American friend David Gettman, the son of Lt Henry ‘Shorty’ Gettman, Platoon Leader of the 1st Platoon, 99th Reconnaissance Troop, 99th Infantry Division (1-99/99th Inf Div), 1st Army, ETO, WW II, Gerolzhofen, Germany, post VE Day.
In loving memory of Henry ‘Shorty’ Gettman, May 18 1911 – May 24 1983, and dedicated to all those heroes who proudly wore the Golden Caltrop of the 99th Reconnaissance Troop, and the Checkerboard of the 99th Infantry Division, the Battle Babies. Your sacrifice will not be forgotten.
Action This Hour !
On No 1, Fire 1 !
On No 2, Open 3 !
Advance !
Kill or be killed !
Geronimo !
Spinner !
Contact !
Pilot to Bombardier !
Open bombay doors !
Bombs away !
Gung Ho !
1000, 2000, 3000, Yank !
Yep, in the movies it sounds dramatic. But ‘breaking in’ at the front with dough boys on patrols through the snow – that’s another story. That is the true story. The story of Reconnaissance on reserve. The story of the battle of the defense of Höfen, Germany, November 9 to December 12 1944.
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